Greater Faith Missionary Baptist Church History
established 1945
Greater Faith Missionary Baptist Church was organized October 21, 1945 in the home of Deacon Dan Caldwell, by the late Dr. Austin E. Williams. There were six members on roll: Dr. A. E. Williams, Dea. Dan and Sis. Caldwell (Mother Seward’s parents), Sis. Florence Caldwell (17 years old), Sis. Mattie Wilson, and Sis. Ruth Barr. Greater Faith was named by its first pastor Dr. A. E. Williams. On October 28, 1951, a new building was constructed at our present location, 345 West Worth Street, under the pastorate of Dr. Williams. In November 1959, Dr. M.L. Paskell was called to lead the flock. He served for 18 years and Greater Faith grew spiritually and numerically. On April 4, 1975, Rev. Alfred Norris was called as Pastor. Under his leadership, Greater Faith continued to grow. On February 1, 1982, Dr. Joseph L. Slade was called to the helm of leadership at Greater Faith. Under Pastor Slade’s leadership many changes helped foster Spiritual Growth and encouraged participation in the work of the ministry. In November 2004, Dr. Joseph L. Slade retired, serving his last day on February 28, 2005.
On March 1, 2005, Rev. Willie Hall served as interim pastor for a short time. A pulpit committee was selected by the church to seek a new pastor. After one year this committee presented a candidate to the Deacon Board for consideration. After prayerfully coming together touching and agreeing on presenting this candidate to the Church body, Rev. LaVell William Jones was voted in as Pastor of the Greater Faith Missionary Baptist Church in March 2006. Rev. Jones took charge of the pulpit on the first Sunday in April 2006. Under his leadership the Youth Ministry was re-established, as well as, the Brotherhood Union, Matron’s Auxiliary and Junior Women Auxiliary. Rev. Jones also organized the Media Ministry to reach the sick and shut-in, and the T-shirt Ministry. Pastor Jones instituted our mid-day Bible Study class. Our youth and children’s department continue to grow under the watchful care of our Pastor. Rev. Jones’ vision for the Women of Faith Conference in August 2007 was very successful spiritually and financially to the church and the women of this church. Greater Faith, under the leadership of Pastor Jones, also hosted the Ministerial Alliance’s yearly City Wide Revival.
In 2011, Greater Faith began to fulfil some of the Pastor’s 20/20 vision: we reformulated our Ministries, giving more leadership instruction and spiritual guidance; in July we worshiped in the park every Sunday; in August we gave away backpacks to our children and some to the community; and in October our greatest accomplishment was to redesign the choir/stage area of our sanctuary and re-carpet the sanctuary, supported by donations from our congregation to complete the task.
In 2012, Greater Faith began the year with 40 days of Commitment and Accountability, we had scripture and bible study for everyday, as well as ways to aid in our general and spiritual health. We had our first Women's Retreat at the Silver Spur Christian Retreat Center in Tuolumme County, in the beautiful Sierra Foothills. The ladies were lead by Sis. Joan McFadden and Sis. Onie Jones, who along with our guest facilitator, First Lady Tiwana Porter, from the Genesis Church in Sacramento on how to handle "The Submissive Woman, Slaying Giants in Her Pursuit of God" James 3:7 • I Samuel 17:45 • I Samuel 17:50 • Psalm 42:1. The Lord really worked through those in attendance and we are so looking forward to planning our retreat for 2013 along with having a Men's retreat as well.
We have come quite far by faith. We feel honored and are grateful to those who, with the help of God, laid the foundation upon which we presently stand. However, we cannot allow ourselves to become complacent, for there is still much to be done in this business of kingdom building for our Lord. The desire of our Pastor is to lead us forward to the next level of this Christian journey. We can and will survive the storms, and turmoil’s that life throws at us as we, the members of the Greater Faith Missionary Baptist Church, come together as one body following our Pastor as he follows Christ.
On March 1, 2005, Rev. Willie Hall served as interim pastor for a short time. A pulpit committee was selected by the church to seek a new pastor. After one year this committee presented a candidate to the Deacon Board for consideration. After prayerfully coming together touching and agreeing on presenting this candidate to the Church body, Rev. LaVell William Jones was voted in as Pastor of the Greater Faith Missionary Baptist Church in March 2006. Rev. Jones took charge of the pulpit on the first Sunday in April 2006. Under his leadership the Youth Ministry was re-established, as well as, the Brotherhood Union, Matron’s Auxiliary and Junior Women Auxiliary. Rev. Jones also organized the Media Ministry to reach the sick and shut-in, and the T-shirt Ministry. Pastor Jones instituted our mid-day Bible Study class. Our youth and children’s department continue to grow under the watchful care of our Pastor. Rev. Jones’ vision for the Women of Faith Conference in August 2007 was very successful spiritually and financially to the church and the women of this church. Greater Faith, under the leadership of Pastor Jones, also hosted the Ministerial Alliance’s yearly City Wide Revival.
In 2011, Greater Faith began to fulfil some of the Pastor’s 20/20 vision: we reformulated our Ministries, giving more leadership instruction and spiritual guidance; in July we worshiped in the park every Sunday; in August we gave away backpacks to our children and some to the community; and in October our greatest accomplishment was to redesign the choir/stage area of our sanctuary and re-carpet the sanctuary, supported by donations from our congregation to complete the task.
In 2012, Greater Faith began the year with 40 days of Commitment and Accountability, we had scripture and bible study for everyday, as well as ways to aid in our general and spiritual health. We had our first Women's Retreat at the Silver Spur Christian Retreat Center in Tuolumme County, in the beautiful Sierra Foothills. The ladies were lead by Sis. Joan McFadden and Sis. Onie Jones, who along with our guest facilitator, First Lady Tiwana Porter, from the Genesis Church in Sacramento on how to handle "The Submissive Woman, Slaying Giants in Her Pursuit of God" James 3:7 • I Samuel 17:45 • I Samuel 17:50 • Psalm 42:1. The Lord really worked through those in attendance and we are so looking forward to planning our retreat for 2013 along with having a Men's retreat as well.
We have come quite far by faith. We feel honored and are grateful to those who, with the help of God, laid the foundation upon which we presently stand. However, we cannot allow ourselves to become complacent, for there is still much to be done in this business of kingdom building for our Lord. The desire of our Pastor is to lead us forward to the next level of this Christian journey. We can and will survive the storms, and turmoil’s that life throws at us as we, the members of the Greater Faith Missionary Baptist Church, come together as one body following our Pastor as he follows Christ.